Fort Sill National Cemetery
USA /
Oklahoma /
Elgin /
North East Jake Dunn Road, 2648
World
/ USA
/ Oklahoma
/ Elgin
World / United States / Oklahoma
military, cemetery
Fort Sill National Cemetery
2648 NE Jake Dunn Road
Elgin, OK 73538
Phone: (580) 492-3200 or (580) 492-3201
FAX: (580) 492-3208
www.cem.va.gov/CEMs/nchp/ftsill.asp
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin, Okla., was dedicated on Nov. 2, 2001. The Fort Sill National Cemetery was the second national cemetery to be constructed in Oklahoma and became the 120th national cemetery to be administered by the National Cemetery Administration. Fort Sill National Cemetery lies in southwestern Oklahoma, approximately 75 miles from Oklahoma City and five miles north of Lawton. Land for the national cemetery was transferred from the Department of the Army’s Ft. Sill Military Reservation in 1998.
The cemetery is situated on land that was once Indian Territory. A military reservation was staked out in January 1869 by Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan and was formally established as Camp Wichita the following month. Sheridan later renamed the garrison as Fort Sill in honor of fellow West Point classmate, Brigadier General Joshua W. Sill, who died in the Battle of Stones’ River during the Civil War. Fort Sill's mission was one of law enforcement for the expanding American frontier. The arrival of the Quohada Comanches to Fort Sill in June 1875 marked the end of Indian warfare of the south Plains.
In the 1890s, Apache Chief Geronimo and 341 other Apache prisoners of war were brought to Fort Sill by the government. Geronimo was granted permission to travel briefly with Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show and also visited with President Theodore Roosevelt. Geronimo died of pneumonia at Fort Sill on Feb. 17, 1909, at the age of 83 and is buried in the post cemetery at Fort Sill. Lt. Hugh L. Scott instructed the remaining Apache prisoners of war on how to build houses, raise crops and herd cattle. Many spent the remainder of their lives at Fort Sill.
The last Native American lands in Oklahoma opened for settlement in 1901 and 29,000 homesteaders registered at Fort Sill for the land lottery during July. On August 6 of that year, the town of Lawton sprang up and quickly grew to become the third-largest city in Oklahoma. As of 2005, Lawton currently is the fourth largest city in Oklahoma, having fallen behind Norman in the last census. With the disappearance of the frontier, the mission of Fort Sill gradually changed from cavalry to field artillery. The first artillery battery arrived at Fort Sill in 1902 and the last cavalry regiment departed in May 1907.
Burial Space: This cemetery has space available to accommodate casketed and cremated remains.
Acreage: 391.3
Number of Interments
Thru Fiscal Year 2007: 1,581
General Information Kiosk on Site? Yes
Directions from nearest airport:
From Lawton Airport: Travel north on 11th Street to Lee Boulevard. Go east on Lee Boulevard to Interstate 44. Take Interstate 44 towards Oklahoma City. Take Exit 46 (last free exit) to Elgin. Follow the road approximately four miles straight across and over the train tracks, pass Doleses's Rock/Stone quarry and continue to Porter Hill at the four-way intersection (blinking light). Turn right on Highway 277 North (Meers/Porter Hill Road). Approximately two miles (at the top of the hill) turn right onto Jake Dunn Road and travel approximately one mile to the cemetery’s main entrance, which will be on the left.
DRIVING:
The cemetery is located between Elgin and Porter Hill, south on Jake Dunn Road. There
are different approaches to the cemetery.
From OKC/I-44: take the H.E. Bailey Turnpike to Elgin (Exit 53), go west on US 277
for about 2.6 miles, turn left (south) onto Jake Dunn Road, go about 1.1 miles. Cemetery is on the left.
From Lawton: take I-44 north and exit on Exit 46 (last free exit), after passing Dolese's Rock/Stone quarry, turn right on the first road (Glover Road). Go east about 2 miles until you reach the "T" intersection, turn right. Cemetery is on the left.
2648 NE Jake Dunn Road
Elgin, OK 73538
Phone: (580) 492-3200 or (580) 492-3201
FAX: (580) 492-3208
www.cem.va.gov/CEMs/nchp/ftsill.asp
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin, Okla., was dedicated on Nov. 2, 2001. The Fort Sill National Cemetery was the second national cemetery to be constructed in Oklahoma and became the 120th national cemetery to be administered by the National Cemetery Administration. Fort Sill National Cemetery lies in southwestern Oklahoma, approximately 75 miles from Oklahoma City and five miles north of Lawton. Land for the national cemetery was transferred from the Department of the Army’s Ft. Sill Military Reservation in 1998.
The cemetery is situated on land that was once Indian Territory. A military reservation was staked out in January 1869 by Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan and was formally established as Camp Wichita the following month. Sheridan later renamed the garrison as Fort Sill in honor of fellow West Point classmate, Brigadier General Joshua W. Sill, who died in the Battle of Stones’ River during the Civil War. Fort Sill's mission was one of law enforcement for the expanding American frontier. The arrival of the Quohada Comanches to Fort Sill in June 1875 marked the end of Indian warfare of the south Plains.
In the 1890s, Apache Chief Geronimo and 341 other Apache prisoners of war were brought to Fort Sill by the government. Geronimo was granted permission to travel briefly with Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show and also visited with President Theodore Roosevelt. Geronimo died of pneumonia at Fort Sill on Feb. 17, 1909, at the age of 83 and is buried in the post cemetery at Fort Sill. Lt. Hugh L. Scott instructed the remaining Apache prisoners of war on how to build houses, raise crops and herd cattle. Many spent the remainder of their lives at Fort Sill.
The last Native American lands in Oklahoma opened for settlement in 1901 and 29,000 homesteaders registered at Fort Sill for the land lottery during July. On August 6 of that year, the town of Lawton sprang up and quickly grew to become the third-largest city in Oklahoma. As of 2005, Lawton currently is the fourth largest city in Oklahoma, having fallen behind Norman in the last census. With the disappearance of the frontier, the mission of Fort Sill gradually changed from cavalry to field artillery. The first artillery battery arrived at Fort Sill in 1902 and the last cavalry regiment departed in May 1907.
Burial Space: This cemetery has space available to accommodate casketed and cremated remains.
Acreage: 391.3
Number of Interments
Thru Fiscal Year 2007: 1,581
General Information Kiosk on Site? Yes
Directions from nearest airport:
From Lawton Airport: Travel north on 11th Street to Lee Boulevard. Go east on Lee Boulevard to Interstate 44. Take Interstate 44 towards Oklahoma City. Take Exit 46 (last free exit) to Elgin. Follow the road approximately four miles straight across and over the train tracks, pass Doleses's Rock/Stone quarry and continue to Porter Hill at the four-way intersection (blinking light). Turn right on Highway 277 North (Meers/Porter Hill Road). Approximately two miles (at the top of the hill) turn right onto Jake Dunn Road and travel approximately one mile to the cemetery’s main entrance, which will be on the left.
DRIVING:
The cemetery is located between Elgin and Porter Hill, south on Jake Dunn Road. There
are different approaches to the cemetery.
From OKC/I-44: take the H.E. Bailey Turnpike to Elgin (Exit 53), go west on US 277
for about 2.6 miles, turn left (south) onto Jake Dunn Road, go about 1.1 miles. Cemetery is on the left.
From Lawton: take I-44 north and exit on Exit 46 (last free exit), after passing Dolese's Rock/Stone quarry, turn right on the first road (Glover Road). Go east about 2 miles until you reach the "T" intersection, turn right. Cemetery is on the left.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Sill_National_Cemetery
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 34°45'40"N 98°20'22"W
- Falcon Bombing Range Mock Airfeild 36 km
- Fort Sill - Main Post 38 km
- Sheppard Air Force Base/Wichita Falls Municipal Airport (SPS/KSPS) 84 km
- Altus Air Force Base (LTS/KLTS ) 89 km
- Tinker Air Force Base (TIK/KTIK) 112 km
- Vance Air Force Base (END/KEND) 182 km
- McAlester Army Ammunition Plant 212 km
- Fort Wolters (National Guard Facility) 214 km
- Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base (KNFW/FWH) 234 km
- Camp Bowie (site) 240 km
- Dolese Quarry, Richards Spur 6 km
- Lake Ellsworth 7.3 km
- New Field Artillery AIT billets 14 km
- Blue Canyon V Wind Farm 14 km
- Highland Cemetery 15 km
- 3 Mile running track. 15 km
- Lawton Indian Hospital 16 km
- Elmer Thomas Park 17 km
- Central Mall 18 km
- Cameron University 20 km
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